connecticut officials have tried to block them to protect families of the 20 children and 6 educators who were killed on that day. but they decided not to appeal after a court ruled to make those recordings public. >>> and now, to detroit, where the judge who approved the city's entrance into bankruptcy is calling that move an opportunity for a fresh start. the motor city now mustard its $18 billion debt. the judge's decision was opposed by the city's unions, pension funds and retirees who claim that the mindful of that, the judge says he will not sign off on just any proposed cut. >>> the nation's capital is a little brighter for the rest of the year after getting an annual touch of holiday glitz. >> house speaker john boehner flipping the switch on the capitol christmas tree. it's a spruce, adorned by ornaments made by kids across the country. >>> which state curses the most? the results are in. >> interesting. >>> plus, a california ceo and his family vanished. the frantic search for their plane after it seemed to disappear from the skies. >>> and what billy joel is planning to do